WTAMU’s NBS Students Earn Awards at National Convention

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University’s National Broadcasting Society (NBS) members traveled to Hollywood for the National Broadcasting Society’s annual convention March 11-16, which included the 51st Annual National Undergraduate Student Electronic Media Competition.

The WTAMU NBS chapter earned a number of awards including Model Chapter of the Year and an honorable mention for its community service.

Lance Wells, a December graduate from Borger, and the One Sessions crew won in the category of audio studio or live performance segment with “Let Me Love You” by Zac Wilkerson.

The One Sessions crew led by Viri Diaz, a recent graduate from Amarillo, won the grand prizes for video music/entertainment program (One Sessions with Zac Wilkerson) and for video studio or live performance segment for “4 Lane Highway” by Zac Wilkerson.

Keltin Wiens, recent graduate from Johnson, Kan., and Cale Bloskas, junior from Anton, won top honors for audio sports play-by-play programming with their calls on the WT game against Angelo State.

Randy Ray, director of broadcast engineering and lecturer in the Department of Communication, and broadcast engineer Johnny Story won first place in the educational /promotional category of professional production.

Teresa Herrera, a junior from Dumas, was selected as national Rookie of the Year. Katie White, a senior from San Antonio, won an honorable mention for Student Member of the Year.

White and Wiens were inducted into the AERho honor society. To become a member, a student must maintain a 3.25 or higher GPA and have completed at least three semesters of full-time college work in a broadcasting program.

Dr. Emily Kinsky, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, was named national Adviser of the Year.

In addition to the awards ceremony, students attended daily keynote speeches and numerous panels, toured studios including Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers, TCM and Clear Channel radio and viewed show tapings of “Conan,” “The Price is Right,” “The Millers,” “Last Man Standing” and “On with Mario Lopez.” They also visited local media businesses for interviews and tours.